LEGALLY Blonde actress Faye Brookes went beyond the call of duty to get to know her new co-star – taking him home for sleep-overs and organising tasty treats she knew he’d love.

LEGALLY Blonde actress Faye Brookes went beyond the call of duty to get to know her new co-star – taking him home for sleep-overs and organising tasty treats she knew he’d love.

“But then he is a chihuahua,” laughs the 23-year-old star of one of the most anticipated productions this year, which opens at the Liverpool Empire this week.

“He’s called Breezer, although in the show he’s Bruiser. As an actress you have to find a connection with the people you’re on stage with and it’s no different because he’s a dog. If he was uncomfortable with me then it would be obvious.

“And it’s been lovely to have him around the house!”

Faye, who hails from Manchester, hasn’t just faced a doggie challenge to get into the right mindset to play Elle, the role made famous in the smash-hit film by Reece Witherspoon.

As a natural brunette she is the first actress without blonde locks to win the coveted part of Elle who, despite her Malibu princess appearance, becomes determined to prove she has brains as well as beauty and wins a place at Harvard. The role was played by Reece Witherspoon on the big screen, and Sheridan Smith in the West End musical - see her in action below.

“So no pressure there then,” laughs Faye.

“I wear a wig in the show and it’s fantastic. The moment it’s on I’m her.”

Faye admits the role is the most demanding she has played both because she spends so much time on stage and because it’s an emotional part.

“I think I’ve cried every day in rehearsal. Everyone has knocks in life, just like Elle, but it’s how you get up from those knocks and carry on that counts.

“So many people can relate to that. It’s a great feel-good story and a dream of a part to play.”

Indeed, Faye’s career has been a bit of a dream over the last few years.

Although always fond of acting she says she didn’t take it seriously until other people started taking her seriously and encouraging her in her ambitions at around the age of 15.

She attended Knutsford high school where she was supported in her desire to perform by her music teacher. She then went on to complete a performing arts course at a college in Salford and from there won a place at the prestigious Guildford School of Acting.

“I started quite late but once at Guildford I ate, slept and drank musical theatre. I was realising a childhood dream, to be honest.”

She auditioned for a role on the ensemble at the local panto and was stunned to be chosen to play the lead opposite Nigel Havers who she describes as a ‘legend and absolutely lovely’.

But it wasn’t a career path her parents, with no history of acting in the family, were entirely comfortable with.

“I’d be at parents’ evenings and my dad would go, ‘so, Faye’s going into teaching’ and I’d go ‘what?’

“They were always asking me what the plan B was. I’d just say: ‘there is no plan B’.”

Now, though, both her parents are thrilled with her success, particularly when she had to fly to New York for the final round of auditions for Legally Blonde.

“There were about eight rounds in all and I was put through every aspect of the part but it made me more determined to play her..

“But I didn’t realise how much of Elle there is in me until I began rehearsals,” says Faye who has also played Frenchie in the west End production of Grease.

“Her parents would say: ‘why do you want to go to Harvard?’ while mine said: ‘why do you want to go to drama school?’

“And I’ve had times when I’ve worried that I wasn’t quite good enough but you just have to believe in yourself.”

For now, though, Faye is in intense, morning-till-night rehearsals ready for curtain up although at least she’s familiar with the theatre.

“My boyfriend was in Footloose at the Empire earlier this year and I saw the show there three times.

“Who would have thought that I’d be on that same stage just a few months later – appearing with a chihuahua.”

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Alastair Machray was appointed editor of The Liverpool Echo in 2005 and is also editor-in-chief of Trinity Mirror Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. He is a former editor of The Daily Post (Wales and England) and editor-in-chief of the company's Welsh operations. Married dad-of-two and keen golfer Alastair is one of the longest-serving newspaper editors in the country. His titles have won numerous awards and spearheaded numerous successful campaigns.